Luke Hines Takes United Autosports BTCC Seat

Former Dunlop MSA Britiash Touring Car Championship race winner Luke Hines will return to the series for the remaining two meetings of the 2014 season, taking the second United Autosports seat.

Hines takes the wheel of the vacant Toyota Avensis for the Anglo-American squad in place of the suspended Glynn Geddie, the latter charged with a drink driving offence from August.

The 32-year-old has experience in Britain’s premier tin-top championship having previously won the 2003 Production Class championship in a Barwell Motorsport Honda Civic Type-R, before going on to race for the works outfits at Vauxhall and SEAT.

Hines picked up two victories in 2004 with the VX Racing squad driving a Vauxhall Astra alongside former BTCC champions James Thompson and Yvan Muller, before adding another behind the wheel of a SEAT Toledo after the race two exclusion of team-mate Jason Plato at Silverstone a year later.

The returning Hines said: “I’m thrilled to be returning to the BTCC. I would like to say a huge thank you to United Autosports for this fantastic opportunity. I raced in the championship previously between 2003 to 2005 taken podiums and wins and I can’t wait to get my hands on the car.”

The former works Vauxhall and SEAT driver sternly added his intentions, saying: “I’m not just going to make up the numbers, I’m excited and I have a lot of unfinished business in the BTCC.”

The change will take place with immediate effect, Hines joining James Cole for United Autosports in the remaining two events at Silverstone and Brands Hatch GP, the first of those taking place next weekend (27/28 September).

Team owner, Richard Dean, added: “I know Luke very well and I am a big fan having run him in Formula Ford and in the Panoz GT2 car. Luke helped my old Team JLR to score a one-two-three podium clean sweep in the big grid, 30+ car Formula Ford days. Luke also finished second in the BGT championship with Tom Kimber-Smith when we ran the Panoz in GT2 back in 2006. He is a winner and will add the front wheel drive experience we are looking for with our BTCC programme.”